Arc 3 Chapter 7
It is night in Inkopolis and the square was still filled with young turf war players. Back in the studio, Marina had been interrogated by Pearl, demanding why she had been sneaking around and acting like she was hiding something. Pearl was staring down Marina who was cornered in her DJ booth. "Rina! What's going on? You've been acting strange lately," said Pearl with her arms crossed glaring at Marina.
"Pearly, I don't know what you're talking about, why are you treaty me this way?" exclaimed a distressed Marina.
"It's been bothering me all day, ever since we went with that yellow-headed squid to that buster's hideout to save that other chick. You've acted odd and have been sneaking around or messin' with that laptop of yours. I don't like it Rina, friends don't keep secrets from each other," said Pearl getting closer putting her arms up in the air with her expression getting more flared.
"Pearl, please, I can't discuss it right now," said Marina huddling up against her station.
"Can't discuss what, Marina tell me!" shouted Pearl getting angrier.
Marina saw that she couldn't get through to her friend and decided that she had no other option. She gave a deep sigh and looked hard at the short inkling who's anger was slowly resolving wanting an explanation. "Pearl... I have been keeping things from you but I didn't want you or Inkopolis to panic with the peace treaty in place. The octarians have been up to something and I've been in contact with an old friend, her name's Indigo. I've been talking with her about things that have been happening lately especially with the octo rebels," said Marina.
"Octo rebels? Friend? Marina what are you not telling me?" said Pearl still confused.
"They're the octarians that objected to the peace treaty, they've been wanting to free Octavio and take the great zapfish causing Inkopolis to become vulnerable to their attack. Indigo was a friend that I worked along side with back when we were in the octarian army. We both built octoweapons for Octavio but after hearing Calamari Inkantion back Octavio's base in the valley. Me and her escaped along with others. We were moved by the squid sister's singing and wanted to start a new life on the surface. I wasn't completely honest with you when we first met," said Marina.
"Why?" asked Pearl.
"Because I didn't want you to hate me. I wanted to start over and become friends. I didn't want to get taken in or ran back underground because I was an octarian," said Marina with her head down wanting to cry.
"Marina, I would've never done that to you, Yo!" said Pearl. She walked over to face Marina who picker her head back up. "I don't care if you worked for that poser Octavio, his beats are weak yo! You're a better DJ than he could ever be, we're friends homey. Don't be all whack about it," said Pearl in her hip hop talk.
"You really mean that Pearl?" asked Marina as she wiped a tear from her eye.
"True that!" said Pearl crossing her arms giving a hip hop pose.
"(sniffle) aw, Pearly, where would I be without you," said Marina giving Pearl a hug.
"Alright yo! Don't be all sentimental and junk but yeah, we'd still be friends," said Pearl hugging Marina.
As the two of them were embracing each other the lights starting flicking then they went off. "What the! What's going on!" shouted Pearl.
"I don't know, let's head outside!" said Marina as the two of them let go of each other and ran out to the square.
When they rushed outside they looked at the tower where the great zapfish was perched. A large Octozeppelin was being loaded with the great zapfish by a swarm of octocopters. The great zapfish was bellowing and sparking. Inside the large octozeppelin was the major of the octo rebels. "Let's see how the inklings handle without their precious zapfish. Let's see how they like living in the dark without power. Soon Inkopolis we'll be ripe for the taking and the inklings our personal slaves!" sneered the major as she saw the zapfish finally get loaded and octozeppelin fly away.
"Oh No! The great Zapfish! What do we do!" shouted Marina.
"Yo! That's our zapfish! Give it back you octo punks!" shouted Pearl.
Inside Ammo Knights Sheldon scurried outside wondering what happened to the power. "Hey! What's going on!?" exclaimed the little crab. He looked and saw the zapfish get taken by the octarians. "Oh no, this is terrible! Without the great zapfish the city will be powerless! I've got to get a hold of Marie right away! I just have to cut on the generator," said Sheldon as he darted back in.
The city soon when black and the octozeppelin disappeared into the night, heading back to the rebel's base. The inklings were left confused and afraid of what had just happened. They all looked as they came out of their homes andbusinesses. They all turned to the Deca Tower and panicked once they saw the great zapfish was gone.
"The great zapfish is gone! Somebody do something!" shouted a female inkling.
"I can't get on the squidnet!" shouted a male.
"Where's the Inkopolis Defense Force!" shouted another.
The inklings scattered and ran back toward their homes, feeling the world had ended around them with the giant fish powering their city. Pearl and Marina headed back inside before they got trampled by a panicking inkling and shut the door and window. "Without the great zapfish, Inkopolis is doomed!" exclaimed Marina. "Pearl what do we..." started Marina as she turned around but Pearl was missing. "Pearl?!" shouted Marina.
Just then she heard Pearl curled up, mumbling behind the large monitor. "No...no...I can't check up on my social life on the internet or give the inkopolis news with the inklings adoring me and...myPrecious Mayonnaise! It's the end of Inkopolis as we know it!" shouted Pearl in distress. Marina walked over and picked her up before smacking her in the face.
"Pearly! Get it together! Inkopolis is in trouble and no's not the time to think about your social life!" exclaimed Marina sternly.
"You didn't have to clap me so hard!" shouted Pearl angrily as she rubbed her cheek. "W...What are we supposed to do about it!" shouted Pearl as she raised her arms.
"I'm...not sure," answered Marina. She turned away and headed towards the back of the studio.
"Marina! Where are you going!?" shouted Pearl as she reached out toward her octoling partner. Marina went into the backroom and shut the door as Pearl plopped in her bean bag chair unsure what to do. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. "Friends... I hope we can still be..." she mumbled to herself.
10 minutes earlier Cassie had left the tram station and headed toward the drain in the corner of the plaza. There she saw Cuttlefish in his new outfit waiting for her. She walked over and greeted him. "So what's the down-low?" asked Cuttlefish talking hip again.
"Cuttlefish I wish you would quit talking like that," said Cassie.
"Not feelin' my vibe homefry," responded Cuttlefish. "Sorry, Lass I guess these digs are affecting my speech," said Cuttlefish looking at Cassie.
"Well where is this cape anyway?" asked Cassie.
"It's down south near the coastline of Inkopolis Bay," answered Cuttlefish.
"I wonder why the deepsea metro would have a station away from the city?" asked Cassie.
"I'm not sure, but we'll soon find out," said Cuttlefish.
The two of them head out of the plaza and en route to the cape of Inkopolis. Cassie was thinking about Izzy and worried about her fighting the octarians like before, but shook off her concerns as she had to focus on the mission she and Cuttlefish were on.
As Time went by the two of them were not far from the square when they heard a noise emanating from above and soon they saw the power go out in the city. "What's happening?" asked Cassie.
"Look!" shouted Cuttlefish as he pointed his cane toward the sky. The two were stunned at the sight they had seen. It was a large octozeppelin and inside with the hatch still open on it. They saw the great zapfish caught by the octo rebels.
"(gasp) The great zapfish! The octarians stole it again! We got to stop them before they get away!" shouted Cassie as she started to take off only to be grabbed by Cuttlefish.
"Agent! There's nothing we can do right now! We have to focused on the deepsea metro! Get a hold of my grandsquid and inform her on the situation. I'm sure it's nothing your friend and Bucko himself can take of!" exclaimed Cuttlefish.
"But Captain! (sigh) fine, I'll call Marie," said Cassie who pulled out her squidphone.
Meantime back at Mt. Nantai Marie had awoken unable to sleep which was unlike her since she always slept in. She had thoughts about her cousin Callie. She wanted to see her cousin again as a tear ran down her face as she stared into the sky outside her shack. "Oh, Callie how I would love to see you again, you've been like a true sister to me, you've always been there for me and now you're gone," said Marie resisting to cry as she clenched her fist to her face.
She turned away and laid back down staring at the ceiling. Her mind wouldn't let her sleep and her thoughts turned away from Callie and that to Blake thinking about his heroism since they met at her grandfather's place. "Blake, I hope you can get Callie back... but something has been eating away at my heart, I've been keeping it bottled up for some time and I hope you and Callie will understand," she said to herself. She gave a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment and looked back at the ceiling. "I think I've fallen for you, Blake," said Marie. She covered her face with her palms trying to ease her conflict with these emotions being her cousin was madly in love with him first and Marie didn't want to intervene, but her compassion for him slowly took over.
She had fantasies about being with him and starting a family. She accepted these feelings until she jarred herself away from them. "Marie! What are you thinking! I can't! He's a human and Callie is in love with him! Come to your senses!" she exclaimed to herself as she got up.
She fixed herself some tea to calm down but soon the radio came on followed by a panicking Sheldon.
"Marie, Marie, Are you there? This is Sheldon! Come in!" he shouted over the radio.
"That's agent 2! And yes, what is it!" shouted Marie in irritation.
"It's the great zapfish! The octo rebels have taken it!" shouted Sheldon.
"(spitting) WHAT!" shouted Marie after spitting her tea out.
"Yes! They've swiped Inkopolis's power supply, you need to inform agents 0 and 4 about this right away!" shouted Sheldon.
"Thanks for the info Sheldon, my cousin now the great zapfish, Octavio won't stop until he's taken everything from us," said Marie with anger building.
Soon Marie's squidphone rang and she saw that it was Cassie. "More good news," said Marie sarcastically as she picked up the phone.
"Yes, Agent 3?" asked Marie with frustration.
"Marie it's the great zapfish! The octarians have..." started Cassie. "I know! Have taken it, sheldon just informed me," she said still irritated about the situation. "You and gramps just continue your mission, I'll inform agents 0 and 4 about it," she continued.
"How's Izzy doing?" asked Cassie.
"She and Blake are fine, they've already obtained a zapfish and about to enter the underground domes. Don't worry agent. She's been doing well with Blake. I gotta say she has impressed me but she'll have to improve as they get deeper in the canyon. I trust Blake will make sure nothing happens to her," said Marie.
"Thanks, Marie, me and Cuttlefish will continue," said Cassie.
"Ok, let me inform Blake and Izzy about the great zapfish," said Marie before hanging up. Marie gave a deep sigh and laid her phone down. "This is going to be a long day, more weight on my tentacles. I need another vacation once we stop the rebels and Octavio. Don't know how gramps can deal with all this," said Marie as she took another sip of tea.
Down below in Octorock Quarry, Blake and Izzy were still asleep. It was very early in the morning and still dark. Izzy was sleeping on the ground with her ink tank and hero shot placed aside while Blake was sitting up against a wall talking in his sleep. He shook around as if he was trying to get comfortable as his facial expressions were troubling. It seemed as if he was having a nightmare.
He saw through the eyes of a figure lying down in a lit room. The figure was blinking and breathing difficultly. They struggled to get up but had no luck as the figure was too weak in the state they were in. Footsteps could be heard approaching on the other side of the door to the room. The door handle turned and three humans appeared and walked inside the room. The first was what appeared to be a guard wearing tactical gear carrying an SMG. The second a man in a lab coat and the last was a man in black suit glaring down at the weak figure lying on the floor.
"The subject appears to be fatigued. I didn't expect these results. Not to mention his appearance (sigh) more tests will have to be done," said the man in the lab coat.
"More tests! Professor Jones! Time is of the essence and right now it will only be a couple of hours until the ship goes into cryostasis. You and your team have better come up with a solution. This is unacceptable, this cannot get out!" exclaimed the man in the black suit.
"Director Irons! You can't just expect me to come up with a new serum. The best I can do is possible modify the current serum and as for the subject, I'll try and come up with some kind of vaccine hopefully," said the professor.
"I could care less about Dr. Carter and his family! Right now, we have limited time on coming up with a new serum to allow the populace to adapt to the new world we may have to inhabit. We don't know when the sea levels will drop again and what's left of our humanity is resting on our shoulders. If you can't come up with a solution...then I'll find someone who will," said the director sternly.
"Yes, Irons, we'll come up with something right away but what about Dr. Carter and the others?" asked the professor.
"We'll still hold him here...for now, I'm heading back to the bridge. See to it that a new serum is created at once. I expect results professor," said director Irons as he walked out with his guard.
The professor gave a deep sigh and turned back to Dr. Carter who had remained silent during their conversation. The professor then kneeled down to the doctor and looked at him. "I'm sorry that it's come to this James but I have a job to do. See it this way, that you've tested out the serum, a nessessary sacrifice for mankind. Now hold still while I draw a blood sample," said the professor as he pulled out a syringe.
The figure attempted to talk and after a moment, "I...'m s...sorry, too..." said Dr. Carter.
The professor looked at Dr. Carter with confusion and within an instant he grabbed the professor's head and slammed it against the wall beside him, breaking his nose and dropping the syringe. Dazed and unresponsive, James took the opportunity to use all the energy he suddenly gained to get up and make his way out the door. He looked around and so no one around.
He snuck down the hallway and looked through the rooms until he came across his wife who was is in the same state he was in. "Honey, get up!" he shouted as he woke her. She mumbled and looked at her husband with horror. "James? James! Oh my god, I'm so glad you came back...what...happened to you?" she exclaimed seeing her husband's strange appearance.
"There's no time to explain, we gotta get Amy and Brandon and get outta here before Irons returns," said James as he grabbed his wife and dragged her out the door.
The two of them soon found Amy and Brandon and got them out. Like his wife they were stunned by each other and wanted an explanation but James passed up the explanation and urged them to follow him out and prepare for an escape. The four of them still weak managed to make it to the rescue shuttle bay without getting caught but saw multiple guards around the area.
Back on the bridge as Irons was making the final preparations for when the ship went into cryostatsis. He received a call from one of the professor's research members. "Director Irons," they said in a distressed tone.
"Yes, what is it?" he asked.
"It's the professor, he's been injured and James has escaped!" exclaimed the researcher.
"What! How?!" shouted Director Irons. He then turned to some of his guards on the bridge. "James Carter has gone missing and possibly planning an escape with the rest of his family. Find them and ensure they don't leave this ship! Use what measures deemed necessary!" ordered Irons. The guards nodded and headed out of the bridge to find James and his family. "I'll be there shortly how's the status on Professor Jones? asked Irons.
"Profesor Jones hold a medical team is...Professor Jones!...Irons...I hat to inform but...the professor didn't make it. He mumbled something before he died," said the researcher over the intercom. Irons went quiet as anger grew in him as he clenched his fist.
"Damn it! You'll pay for this Carter! Mark my words! You and your family!" shouted Irons as the whole bridge looked at him. "Continue the preparations for cryostasis while I deal with some unfinished business!" commanded Irons as he left out of the bridge.
A few minutes later, back in the Shuttle bay, James and the rest of them were sneaking past the guards in an attempt to get on a rescue shuttle. The intercom came and Irons shouted over it. "This is Director Irons, James Carter and the other subjects have escaped and need to be located immediately. They can not be allowed to leave this ship! Use whatever force deemed necessary! Irons out!"
The guards around the bay scramble around to find James and the rest of them. They hunkered down until the guards got to a distance. "Alright! Let's go before they find us! Hurry and make a break for the nearest shuttle!" shouted James as they rushed to a nearby rescue shuttle before they were caught. James helped his wife and daughter up followed by Brandon jumping in. "Mr. Carter, what's going on? What happened to us?! Why are they after...?!" exclaimed a panicking Brandon.
"There's no time to answer questions, Brandon! Now get inside!" shouted James as he jumped aboard.
As James headed to the cockpit he felt himself getting weaker and weaker as the rest of them. The shuttle powered up and James steered it around toward the exit hatch.
The guard soon turned their attention toward the shuttle James and his family was in. "Stop that craft!" shouted one of the guards. The group ran toward the shuttle and attempted to hop on it and open it while some banged on the side of it as they tried to keep up with the pace of the craft but had no luck. "Sir! What do we do?!" asked a guard.
Irons and more guards showed up as they stared at the moving shuttle. "James! I won't let you get away! Stop them at all costs! Don't let them leave this ship!" ordered Irons. The guards had no choice but to shot at the craft in attempt to halt their escape. The bullets did little to no effect on the shuttle as the family continued to move toward the exit. One of the guards grabbed an RPG out of the ship's armory and aimed it toward the shuttle. "No! Don't fire that weapon in here you idiot!" shouted Irons but it was too late as Irons rushed toward the guard.
The rocket propelled and struck another shuttle near the path of James and his family. Causing it to exploded, rocking the shuttle James was on as well as causing some damage to the engine. The family held on from the impact and James held a firm grip on the controls. "Hold on! We're getting out of here!" shouted James as the family members rushed to the back and held on to their seats.
The explosion caused a massive fire and it soon spread across the bay. "Seal off the bay and extinguish the fires before the ship takes anymore damage!" ordered Irons. The smoke was filling the bay up and soon they couldn't see the shuttle anymore. They were coughing and Irons was grabbed by his team of guards as they pulled back. (cough) Carter...(cough) this isn't over, we will find you! (cough) mark my words. I hope you and the rest of your family don't survive the trip," said Irons as they left out of the bay.
The Shuttle was almost out of the hatch and soon launched outward. "JAMES! THIS ISN"T OVER!" screamed Irons as his voice echoed threw the burning bay. The fires continued to consume the bay and Irons was grabbed by his guards getting him to safety. They rushed down the corridor but not before catching their breaths. "I...(cough) need an assessment. We need to head back to the bridge right away. Get a team down here to contain the fires," said Irons.
"Director! This is researcher Clementine. The cryostsis is initiating prematurely! We can't stop it! The system is offline and we can't get in!" they shouted over the intercom.
"NO! Get your team and get back into the system! The serum isn't ready yet! Stop it at all costs!" ordered Irons.
"Irons! This is the bridge! We've lost control and are heading out of orbit! The ship is slowly descending! Get up here right away!" shouted one of the crew members over the intercom.
Irons rushed toward the bridge as fast as he could with the guards tailing him. When Irons finally got the bridge, the crew was scrambling to get control of the ship. "Director! We can't stop the ship from descending back down and Tartar is unresponsive. The cryostasis is about to be initiated! What do we do!?" shouted the frantic crew member.
Irons just stared at the crew mwmbwer lost in thought as he saw that everything was going down the tube. He then snapped out of it and looked at the crew member. "We have no choice...get everyone else to their pods and let's just hope that the ship survives the crash on the water. I hope those researchers have done something with the serum," said Irons. Meanwhile Tartar though not responding to the crew had already done some modifications to the serum with DNA-splicing to help the humans adapt to the new world they may be exposed to down on earth. The researchers rushed out of the lab and headed to their pods.
"What!? No! We have to stop Tartar and prevent this from happening! The DNA splicing is unpredictable! The serum is incomplete and I have no way of knowing what it will do to everyone!" shouted Clementine as he saw what was happening on the computer terminal.
"DNA splicing!?" exclaimed a near by researcher seeing what Tartar was doing on the terminal.
"Damn it! I can't stop the process! There's nothing we can do! C'mon let's head for the pods. I hope Tartar knows what it is doing!" shouted Clementine as he grabbed the other researcher and headed to the cryopods.
Meanwhile, The Shuttle was descending down toward the earth. James had lost control of the spacecraft and feared they would crash below not surviving. "Dad! What are we going to do!" yelled Amy.
"Stay Calm and we'll get through this!" shouted James her father.
"We're not goin' to make it are we!?" shouted Brandon.
"Just have faith, Brandon!" shouted James.
"James! Those pods are back here!" shouted his wife.
"What?" responded a baffled James as he got out of the cockpit and headed to the back. What he saw stunned him. There were four extra cryo pods in the cargo area of the shuttle. "What are these doing here?" asked James still unsure why cryostasis pods were loaded on the shuttle.
"Dad! Our names are on them!" shouted Amy.
"Huh?" said James. "No time for questions, just get in them! commanded James. All four of them hopped in the pods hoping they would protect them from the crash. The pods activated and froze the humans inside them unintentionally. The shuttle was on fire and heading towards a large landmass that wasn't the little island from before. Soon the shuttle crashed on the ground below ramming into trees.
The four members managed to survive but were frozen in the pods that kept them unscathed from the wreckage. The pod's intercom came on inside. "Initiating cryostasis sequence. Time of release 1000 years,"
The pods laid undisturbed for 1000 years inside the wrecked rescue shuttle. There would be no telling what kind of world they would walk into or if they would be cured of the serum that altered them. The vision soon fades to black and goes quiet.
In a small cell at Octo Canyon in the octo rebel's base, Blake wasn't the only one having a dream. Sergeant Maxie had fallen asleep the night prior to debating whether or not to get a hold of Blake but she didn't want the rebels to intercept the distress call and put Blake in danger. She was lying on the bed still shackled to it dreaming in her sleep. In the dream, she was lying on the ground which was covered in grass. She was dreaming of the beautiful valley she dreamed before with the sun beading down on her. The sensation was warming and comforting. The wind was blowing and the scenery was calm and placid as a figure was lying beside her.
She turned her head toward the figure who was neither an inkling or an octoling like her but a human. It was Blake with his arms crossed behind his head staring at the clouds above them. "Blake?" she asked looking at him.
"What is it Maxie?" he asked back.
"How did I get here? What is this beautiful place?" she asked staring back at the sky.
Blake turned and looked at her. "You don't remember? It's the promised land. You've always wanted to come here," he explained.
"Promised Land?" she said with a confused look.
"You told me it's where all the octarians wanted to go after they left the underground domes," said Blake. "Are you feeling ok, Maxie?" he asked her.
"I guess my mind went blank for a minute, I do remember the octarians talking about it, but it's just a fable from being underground for so long," explained Maxie.
"Well, it's real and I wanted to bring you here," said Blake.
"I wish my parents were here to see it. To think it seemed like yesterday since...," she said shutting her eyes to hold in the tears. She looked over to the human beside her. "I don't know how I can thank you Blake," she said giving him a compassionate smile then turning back to look at the sky again.
"It's ok, Maxie, I just wanna see you happy, it must be miserable being underground to not witness the sunlight or feel the wind run across your face," said Blake rolling back over to look at the sky again.
"Hey Blake," she said looking back at him.
"Yeah," he answered.
She turned over and locked eyes with the human. Her emotions were running rampant as she contain her affections for Blake. "I...love you," she said hesitantly as she blushed. She rolled over to get on top of him. He was unsure how to react to the octoling's gesture but before he could do anything she leaned over and kissed him on the lips as she grabbed his face. The dream had blurred to bright white light and she soon woke up in her cell.
Her eyes focused and adjusted to the ceiling above her. The octoling sergeant slowly sat up and rubbed her face with her hands. "(deep breath) Another dream, what's happening to me, I'm a soldier and he's... a human, I shouldn't be feeling these emotions. I...," said the octoling as she started to cry and covered her face.
"I'm ashamed of myself, what kind of octoling soldier am I," she shouted as she wept.
"Get it together Maxie, focus on the mission and getting out of here," said the octoling as she snapped out of her pity and hopped on the floor to do push-ups getting her mind off the dream.
After a moment of push-ups a voice called out to her in the room. "Maxie...Maxie..." the voice said. The octoling finally stopped and looked in front of her. Her eyes widened and she froze where she was at. In front of her was an octoling with green eyes like hers but she had a white glow that surrounded her body having the appearance of a ghostly figure. Another thing that was strange was she was wearing a white veiled dress and was barefooted. The ghostly octoling stared at her with a slight smile.
"Who are you?" asked the stunned octoling.
"I'm you, Maxie, at least your softer side anyway, the manifestation of your inner feelings. The emotions you have repressed since your parents died," said the entity.
"What? but how can you be..." started the sergeant staring at the figure as she was cut off.
"Maxie, you shouldn't bottle up your emotions like this. I know your parents died and you're looking to Blake for comfort, to fill the empty void that makes you feel incomplete and inefficient. You will have to eventually deal with these feelings. You love Blake and can't deny it, but I'm sure you also know the inkling girl loves him too as well as another," said the entity.
"Another?" asked the octoling sergeant as she stood up.
"Yes, like you, has bottled up her feelings for him too," said the entity.
"Who is it?" she asked with curiosity.
"right now it's not important, you should be concerned with yourself, remember what I told you Maxie," said the entity.
"I won't believe that you're the manifestation of my inner conscience. Blake's a human...things wouldn't work out, besides that inkling girl loves him. I need to focus on defeating the major not concerned about my emotions," said the sergeant placing her goggles back on her face.
The entity shook her head and closed her eyes. "Maxie, it's because of this that concerns me. How will you deal with your outer conflict if you can't deal with your inner conflict? You've managed to get lucky so far but your luck will soon run out and that may prove fatal. Think about that Maxie," said the entity sternly as she a disappointing look on her face.
"Just leave me be... I can handle it. I don't need you telling me what I should do, I'm an octoling soldier and I will defeat that major and stop the octo rebels," said the sergeant as she turned away.
"Very well, Maxie," said the entity as she slowly vanished out of the room. The sergeant turned back and saw the figure was gone. She downed her head and thoughts stewed through her mind about what the manifestation said. She gave a deep sigh and slowly went back to doing her push-ups.
"My inner conflict...I'm fine," she said to herself. She soon stopped and kneeled on the floor silent in thought. She bared her teeth and threw her goggles across the room before punching the floor. She laid her head against the floor and gave a deep breath. "Blake... I do...heave feelings for that human but...(growl) aaahhh..." she said in grief as she grabbed her head. She got up and kicked the wall beside the bed as she was still shackled. Tears ran down her face and she huddled up against the wall. For the remainder of the time she cried against her knees as she was curled up against the wall unable to fight her emotions.
That morning back in the quarry, Blake had jarred awake after seeing his family frozen in the cryopods aboard the rescue shuttle they were in. "(gasp) My family! They're alive!" shouted Blake which woke Izzy up.
"Huh, What is it Blake?!" exclaimed Izzy, startled by Blake's outburst.
"I...saw my family frozen in those pods like I was," explained Blake as Izzy looked at him.
"your family? What are you talking about?" asked a stunned Izzy.
"I had a dream about them and I saw them escape this spacecraft and land back down, they froze themselves in these pods, they might still be alive!" said Blake as Izzy was clueless of what Blake was talking about.
"I never told you did I," said Blake as Izzy shook her head. For minutes Blake explained to Izzy about his family and the other events that transpired in his visions. Izzy was intrigued and troubled at the same time. She remembered being told about his discovery years ago and him being a squidbeak agent from back in the great turf war, but never knew of his past before he was found by Cuttlefish in that pod.
"Wow, I never knew Blake, I hope you're right and they are alive," said Izzy.
"I hope so too, I was beginning to think I might never see them again and now they're out there somewhere waiting to be woken up," said Blake. "But for now let's focus on getting Callie back and beating those octo-jerks," said Blake.
Izzy gave Blake a smirk like Marie's. "Yeah, let's get your girlfriend back," she said as Blake smiled and shook his head.
"Ok, Marie, and she's not my girlfriend, she's just a friend," said Blake as he got up. "It's still pretty early and the sun hasn't come up yet," said Blake as he looked up at the start sky above the quarry.
The radio startled the two of them as it came on. "Agent 4? Agent 0? Are you two awake!?" shouted Marie on the radio.
"Yeah, we just got up, why? What's wrong?" asked Blake with concern.
"I've been trying to get a hold of you two! Sheldon informed me about the octo rebels taking the great zapfish as well as Cassie on the phone. Inkopolis is powerless and I'm afraid that will lead them vulnerable to any attacks the rebels may plan. You two need to hurry and make your way into the domes ASAP," said Marie sternly.
"Oh no! All the inklings!" exclaimed Izzy.
"OK agent 2, we'll make our way inside as quickly as possible, don't worry, we'll stop them," said Blake.
"When you two make into the dome. There's something I want you two to do," said Marie.
"What is it Agent 2?" asked Blake.
"I want you two to separate so you can cover more ground. I want Agent 4 to focus on tracking the great Zapfish and Agent 0, you can focus on Callie," said Marie.
"Separate! But I don't..." said Izzy startled as she was cut off by Blake.
"Izzy, it's ok, I know you can do it without me, I have faith in you," said Blake giving her a reassuring expression.
Izzy nodded while Blake turned back to the large hatch that would take them to the underground domes in the canyon.
"Well, here goes nothing," said Blake as he pushed the button to open the hatch.
"Be careful you two, I know you won't have each other to watch your backs but this is the only way we can catch two birds with one stone," said Marie.
"We understand, We'll do our best," said Blake.
"Good luck, Agent 2 out," said Marie as she got off the radio.
"Let's do this," said Izzy as she clutched her hero shot. The hatch was open and the two dove in heading into the belly of the beast.
The trip down was dark and all the two could hear were the echoes of their feet hitting the floor below them. They two soon spotted a doorway in the small chamber they were in and opened. It would be then when the two agents would split and go their separate ways in the underground domes. The two would no longer rely one each other and would have to hone in the skills they had learned from their training and beating the octarians in the quarry. Let's home the two agents are up to the tasks ahead of them.